No Need to Hold Back Anymore
There were three helicopters waiting.
Normally, they only prepared two at most, but apparently they’d paid extra to have a third one ready.
The reason for lining up three was simple.
That way, we could split into two groups.
“We should probably split into three helicopters. The seats are cramped, so two people per cabin seems better.”
“Wow... this really does feel like we’re filming a drama.”
Everyone was too busy gawking at the helicopters to think straight.
We had to divide the group somehow, though.
If I personally said I’d ride with Siyun alone, it would be way too obvious what I was after.
Maybe they’d already caught on to some extent, but there was a difference between openly making a move and letting things flow there naturally.
Just as I was mulling it over, Suho was the first to come to his senses and step forward.
“Then Hyung and Siyun can take one, me and Jiyun can take one, and Yejin and Hyeri can take the last one.”
“Sounds good?”
I took the opening without hesitation.
Everyone seemed to accept it without question.
After all, Siyun and I really were the closest, at least on the surface.
We climbed into the helicopter.
The propellers spun up.
The whole machine shuddered violently.
Siyun, startled, let out a scream.
“You okay?”
As I asked, I reached out and held her hand.
She was scared, after all.
The inside of the helicopter was so loud I had to speak up.
Siyun didn’t even seem to realize she was holding my hand.
Or maybe she was just used to it by now.
We’d already taken several tries just getting here to Osaka Castle.
Her tiny hand was trembling in mine.
As we rose higher, the shaking grew worse, and she clutched my arm tightly as if terrified.
This feeling...
I was happy. My entire awareness narrowed onto my arm in an instant.
So happy, in fact, that I was almost grateful for the helicopter’s shaking.
Just this alone felt like enough to pay back the entire cost of a private helicopter ride.
Maybe even the happiness beyond that, too.
I’d probably have to give the secretarial team a bonus or something.
I was even starting to feel grateful to Suho for dividing up the group in advance.
You’re forgiven.
Since Suho still hadn’t even held Siyun’s hand yet, I could let him off a little.
As the helicopter climbed higher, the vibration finally eased.
Before long, Siyun’s trembling stopped too.
Then she flinched and pulled away from my arm.
Tch.
What a shame.
Still, this time, I understood.
Siyun and I looked out the window.
“Wow...”
“You can see Osaka Castle all at once from up here.”
It really was beautiful. Honestly.
For a moment, it even dulled my desire for Siyun.
One of the assistants had once told me something like this: if I kept showing Siyun scenes like this whenever we were together, she’d start to get the wrong idea.
That being with me meant happiness.
But right then, I didn’t have a single thought like that.
We watched for a long time.
After we got off the helicopter, looking at the other kids’ faces, it seemed we weren’t the only ones feeling that way.
Everyone shared their impressions all the way to the hotel.
And there was one common opinion, too.
“But... why does the ride back not feel disappointing at all?”
“Seriously. We saw such an amazing view, and yet...”
“Honestly, the Osaka view from the hotel was just as beautiful.”
“Well, the hotel itself was incredible.”
Because the hotel was so ridiculously nice, the helicopter ride had been blissful, but not something to mourn losing.
“There’s whiskey and sake there, so if anyone wants a drink, feel free.”
“...You even took away the one thing I could’ve been sad about.”
“Amazing.”
“Thank you, Hyung!”
“Suho, you can speak casually too.”
“Is that okay, Hyung?”
The brat was cute.
That answer he’d just given me—
It was the kind of answer only possible when someone had really let their guard down.
Especially to say something like that in front of the others.
***
Back at the hotel, we drank.
We laughed and traded stories about how incredible today’s schedule had been.
Everyone slept comfortably that night.
The next day centered around the hot springs.
The day after that, we wore kimono and strolled through Kyoto, soaking in the nature.
After so many experiences, before I knew it, the day of departure had arrived.
We got to the accommodation where we’d be staying on the final night.
Everyone had had such a satisfying trip, and they’d played so hard that the moment we arrived, they collapsed onto the beds.
Each person had their own bed.
After a good long rest, we all gathered in the living room.
“I’m not sure if this trip was satisfying for you guys.”
“What the hell, this is straight-up humble-bragging. How could anyone not be satisfied?”
“This is the first time in my life I’ve ever experienced anything like this. It really felt like a dream.”
“Honestly, I kind of want to live like this forever.”
Siyun seemed satisfied with her friends’ opinions too, because she nodded along.
“Today’s plan is to rest as much as you want, and if anyone needs to, you can go shopping downstairs.”
The accommodation was inside a department store building.
“Let’s eat dinner first, then all go down together. I wanted to buy something for all of you for coming on this trip with me.”
“Oppa, how could we accept that? Just being here was already enough.”
“Seriously, can it be okay for us to be this shameless...? You should be the one getting gifts, not us.”
“Hyung, I’m not going to worry about whether it’s my place or not. I’ll eat well tonight and get ready for shopping!”
“All right, then Suho’s coming with us for now...”
When Suho responded differently, the girls who’d been trying to be modest started glancing at one another too.
Before long, they were grinning sheepishly and agreeing with him.
“Hehe. Then we’ll gratefully accept.”
“Honestly, after accepting everything up till now, acting humble all of a sudden would be kind of...”
“I’ve really felt it deeply on this trip. Worrying about Oppa is basically worrying about a conglomerate heir.”
“Then... maybe just something small...”
In the end, we all went shopping together.
We ate dinner first. Once again, it was a two-Michelin-star restaurant.
Maybe because it was the last day, the kids ate with gusto, but beneath those happy expressions was a hint of worry.
Their standards had probably gone way up by now.
When they got back to Korea, they’d have to return to being ordinary college students.
On the way to the department store, after dinner and while we were walking off the meal, the girls rushed ahead excitedly, and Suho came up beside me to speak.
“Hyung.”
“Yeah?”
“Once I get to university, I’ll make sure no one can get anywhere near Siyun. I’ll run full-on ironclad security.”
“...”
“Upperclassmen, returning students, even classmates. They’ll all definitely try to go after Siyun. They won’t even realize you’re standing right there beside her. Just leave it to me.”
He’d been worried.
Unlike me, who wasn’t going to university, Siyun was.
How many guys would be swarming around her?
And Siyun was so beautiful she could’ve been an idol.
So even Suho, rare handsome guy that he was, must have been desperate to do something about it.
I looked at him.
He nodded as if to say, Just leave it to me.
The conditions I hadn’t thought much of before suddenly looked pretty satisfying now.
If a guy that handsome was standing guard beside her, no random idiot would dare approach.
I nodded back.
Then I gave his shoulder a pat.
“I trust you.”
I’d patted his shoulder like this before we arrived in Japan.
Same gesture, but it felt completely different.
Then he glanced at me, checking my expression.
Looks like he still had something else to say.
“Speak comfortably, little brother.”
“Um... would it be all right if I contacted Jiyun?”
“Of course. Contact her as much as you want.”
With Siyun already there, I had no intention of greedily claiming her friends too.
Why would I?
Not that her friends were ugly, but prettier people were everywhere.
Even Jihyun was prettier than Siyun’s friends.
What, should I really refuse my little brother even that much?
After we’d reaffirmed our bond, we headed out to shop.
“Everyone pick out a wallet. Let’s use it as a souvenir.”
I was planning to get matching wallets with Siyun.
After that, I bought the others small gifts, nothing too extravagant.
We moved around so they could each buy their own souvenirs.
When we returned to the hotel again, their expressions were full of solemn resolve.
Because if they slept tonight, this whole life would be over.
It was time to return to reality.
***
On the day of departure, we rode in the car the assistant had arranged and arrived at the airport.
Was traveling always this fun?
Everyone looked full of regret.
We boarded the plane.
Staring out the window, everyone was getting ready to return to reality.
Before takeoff, a friend seated near Siyun called out to her.
“Siyun.”
“Yeah?”
“You absolutely cannot fight with Oppa, okay? And you definitely can’t get awkward with him, either.”
“...Huh?”
“Promise me. Or else, can I contact Oppa myself?”
“...Well, that’s up to Oppa.”
“Forget it, you little brat. I can see it all on your face. So promise me, okay? Promise.”
I pretended not to hear and kept looking out the window. Then I stole a glance toward Siyun.
Siyun, who’d been sneaking looks at me, didn’t seem to realize my gaze had caught hers.
She carefully nodded toward her friend.
So cute.
We landed in Korea.
Two cars were waiting.
We had a lot of luggage.
The problem was that Suho lived near my place, so the route was a little awkward.
But there was no need to worry.
“I’m heading off first!”
Before I even said anything, Siyun hopped into the car with her friends.
Then she shut the door before I could even answer.
The assistant drove off right away.
That left just the two of us.
“Oh, right. I don’t think I bought much for Aunt and Noona. Want to stop by the department store before we go?”
“The department store? We already stopped at one in Japan.”
“That’s different. We had so much luggage we couldn’t even buy that much there.”
“...I’m fine, but if Oppa is okay with it.”
“I told you before, didn’t I? I wanted to get you a gift. Then let’s stop by the department store first.”
“...Okay.”
Yesterday, I’d still held back a little because Jihyun’s friends were there.
Now there was no need to hold back anymore.